Forum : Mums

Hi Shelly, its so hard isn't it, if the midwife is keeping an eye on her for jaundice then I would persevere with the breastfeeding for the time being, even if she's not sucking much every time you put her to the breast it will help and hopefully your milk will come in in the next day or two. Have you thought about ringing la leche? I'm sure they'd be able to advise you. Try rubbing the palm of her hand while you are feeding if she nods off to start her up again.
You might be able to give a bottle of formula and carry on breastfeeding with no problems but I'd get some more advice first before you do. I didn't have any problems giving a bottle a day but max was 2 weeks old when I started with that so we'd got through the worst stages of breastfeeding problems by then.
How are you feeling in yourself xxx

Hey Shelly,congratulations! How much did Freya weigh? I remember with my LO my milk didn't come through until day 3 or 4 so was quite hard as she was unsettled alot in the evenings. She also lost a 1lb in weight which made me feel like it was my fault for feeding her. As soon as milk came through she was alot more settled and was well worth it! I breastfed her for 10 months.xxx

thanks ladies.
i think i might be the hormones, i feel bad for thinking about formula, but i just want her to feed. olivia was combine fed from 2 days to 3 weeks old and it did her no harm...but i lost my milk
oh, i feel bad for whatever i decide. i only got 2 hours sleep last night as she just kept comfort sucking for literally hours on end (perhaps that's why she isnt hungry this morning!). part of me wants to go down the combine feeding route rather than fully formula. my milk came in on day 3 with olivia, which is tomorrow so i only have today to get through i suppose....
Beth - she weighed 7lbs 6oz and was born 3 weeks early (dread to think what she would have weighed if she went to full term!). fortunately i didnt have to be induced as i went into spontaneous labour on friday night (so was only 36+6), but she held on until after midnight so was 37 weeks by the time she was born! it was a very quick labour - 1 hour and 15 minutes with 17 minutes pushing! i was so pleased to get a normal delivery though (livi was forceps), hurt like hell, but it was definitely something i wanted to experience! doesnt help that i have torn along my previous episiotomy but i am much more comfortable this time with the stitches.

It sounds like the 2nd night nightmare last night like I had! I think if you can get through today and tonight then things will improve, but if you do want to give a bottle then maybe ask the midwife or speak to la leche for advice first.
Make sure you are looking after yourself and grabbing catnaps when you get chance xx

wow! She would have been massive. That's brilliant that you weren't induced and it was so quick. Yes it does hurt but well worth it and feeling proud of yourself. The first night with Ruby was awful,she decided to finally go to sleep at 5am for 3 hours then slept all day and was up all night again lol. Im sure your milk will come in very soon though. Does Olivia like her little sister?x

Congratulations! Well done, I haven't even had my first so don't know anything about breast feeding but thought I'd write to you anyway and I hope things get a little easier with the feeding no matter what you choose :) xx

Hi Shelly, just try to keep going today. With both of my little ones they fretted and messed about for a day or two after birth. I think tiredness and hormones does make everything feel worse. You were so determined before you gave birth so I think you probably will beat yourself up about it if you give formula and it may delay your milk coming in even further which might cause more problems. I know it is really hard but it sounds like you are doing everything right and everything you are being faced with is normal early days stuff (which you know!!). My daughter used to fall asleep at the breast and I used to tickle her cheek near her mouth and that used to wake her back up for a few more sips. Is she still sucking whilst she is asleep? Is so just let her do that. Hopefully by tomorrow your milk will have come in and everything will be easier (until you get sore boobs!!). Good luck.

Hi hope you are hanging in there! found a couple of articles that might help, also it mentions that colostrum is the best thing for jaundice as it acts as a laxative and the more they poo the quicker the bilirubin leaves their body! xx

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/establishing-your-milk-supply-starting-out-right

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/waking-a-sleepy-baby

thank you everybody. the midwife has rung today and she thinks that freya sounds like she is behaving like a normal 2 day old but she is going to come round tomorrow and check her. she doesnt always suck when she is asleep. she seems very sleepy today but she was up all night! i will keep going and thanks for the articles, i'll definitely give them a read. my milk is definitely on it's way as i can feel my breasts tingling and a tad sensitive, so hopefully tomorrow things will start to settle if it comes in overnight.
off to sterilise some nipple shields now and roll around in some lansinoh to relieve my booby pain! forgot how much it hurts in the beginning!
there are some photos of freya on my profile which have now been approved. x

well done you for sticking with it, hope the shields and cream help you. congratulations again, the pictures are beautiful xxx